Beginnings
Worlds’ Finest #0
Cover Date: November 2012
Released: 5th September 2012
⋅ Writers: Paul Levitz ⋅ Pencilers: Kevin Maguire ⋅
⋅ Inkers: Wes Craig ⋅ Colourists: Rosemary Cheetham ⋅
⋅ Letterers: Carlos M. Mangual ⋅ Editors: Wil Moss ⋅
When the universe was rebooted into the New 52 it was decided that they wouldn’t start with origin stories, instead starting with the heroes being already established. That was carried on to the second wave of launches including Earth 2 and Worlds’ Finest, though the later cheated by flashing back to tell how they got to Earth Prime. Earth 2 only extends to a one panel cameo, we’ll get to those before the end of the year, so let’s look At Worlds’ Finest #0.
We start off with Helena going out on her first patrol, saving the traditional damsel from a couple of thugs, who as the woman names herself as Robin from Robin Hood. Apparently, she’d been watched by her mother, Selena Kyle née Wayne, who supports her for the successful patrol. It’s really cute how supportive Selena is here, and later Bruce though he’s initially worried about the danger until he’s talked around. It’s a shame we don’t get to see more of this family dynamics, it’s incredible twee and I love it!
Meanwhile, Clark is testing Kara on her aim, with rocks for some reason, for practice for a potential battle. We see here that Superman has a base in Micronesia, which explains why Power Girl set her company here on Earth Prime. We also find that Lois was killed in an off-panel moment and that they know about Apokolips, but no detail about just what it is actually about. Not as cute a family setup, but it’s nice to see Clark and Kara together and see the youthful enthusiasm that you often get from the best Supergirls.
Because we can’t have nice things Selena is killed, off-panel again, going after what she thought was a trafficking gang but they had better weapons than expected. Batman is distraught and can’t act but Helena in her grief goes into the building where the traffickers are trapped to take them down. She’s doing okay but when she gets into trouble she’s reduced by Kara who takes her to safety up in the cloud. Like with the original Power Girl, and Golden Age Supergirl to a point, she’s being kept a secret so people think she’s Superman. Though if that’s the case they must think he has really good leg’s as she’s dressed in a Supergirl-coloured version of the classic Power Girl costume, though obviously this one has a symbol rather than the boob window.
After a little superhero meet cute the two go back to try and take down the traffickers, but they’ve disappeared into some kind of portal, a suggestion that this has something to do with Darkseid’s eventual attack.
Apart from the unfortunate fridging of Selena, though I guess at least it’s to motivate a female character at least, this is a solid issue. It builds on the character’s we’ve already seen and seem’s consistent with the last four issues, really it would have been nice to spend some more time in version of Earth 2, seeing these character’s evolve into those we seen in the main comic.